Extinct Animals

This site lists
as far as I know all extinct, rare and threatened animals with
brief information on all the animals listed. Categorised under
subjects such as extinct, extinct in the wild, threatened etc.

Species of animal and plant will always become
extinct. This is the natural process of selection commonly known
as survival of the fittest. However, there is a difference
between this natural process and the rapid acceleration of this
process by the activities of man.

So far man has managed to name about 1.5
million species. It is possible that with current activities man
may be responsible for the biggest mass extinction for 65 million
years when almost 50% of species became extinct.

However, this was due to natural forces and not
the result of the activities of one species. Man certainly has
the capacity to destroy the worlds species but also has the power
to save and preserve them. Man is causing extinction in 5 major
ways:

Over harvesting

As we enter the year 2000 man is
currently overharvesting the worlds resources of animal and plant
life. In fact, man (one species) is currently harvesting about
half of all animal and plant life on the planet. Trees are
currently being removed 10 times faster than new growth and in
the sea 70% of fish species are being harvested faster than the
rate at which they can reproduce.

2. Alien
species

The second way in which man is
contributing to extinction is the introduction of alien species.
Primarily animals such as rabbits, rats and cats and numerous
predators. Australia is a good example where the natural animal
and plant life developed on an isolated continent and produced
numerous unique species. However, man introduced a number of
alien species to Australia and the natural wildlife which had no
defences against the newcomers has declined or become extinct as
a consequence.

3. Habitat
Destruction

This may be the most significant
way in which man is causing major extinctions. If you take away
an animal or plants home it will die.

4. Islandisation

This is closely related to
habitat destruction. Basically if you reduce an area of habitat a
number of species may have to small an area in which to survive.

5. Pollution

Here is a list showing both the greater
acceleration of extinction as a result of the expansion of human
population and thankfully showing that at last we may have
recognised our responsibilities as a species: